Amity Foundation Aids China Earthquake Victims

May 15, 2008

In Chengdu, China, Yue Yaomeng, an Amity Foundation colleague on the front line, reports on the latest disaster to hit China in 2008.

Yue Yaomeng says, "It was very difficult to purchase enough supplies. We went to many, many, suppliers to collect all that they had in their inventories. It was especially difficult to find enough drinking water and tents. Through coordinating with the Bureau of Commerce, we finally received enough.

Yue Yaomeng, reported that as soon as the team arrived at the outskirts of Baichuan, one of the most severely affected areas, people from all around came asking, "Do you have food?" The need for food and drinking water is great in these stricken areas.

Two Amity teams each consisting of 3-4 staff members joined with 3 trucks per team to distribute supplies in areas such as Du Jiangyan and Baichuan in Mianyang prefectures. Additional Amity teams are expected to dispatch within days.

Supplies worth of RMB 600,000 Yuan include:6,000 boxes of drinking water, a total of 144,000 bottles; 2,400 boxes of instant noodles, a total of 28,800 packs; Plastic sheets for making 1,700 tents, each of 50 square meters.

Yaomeng says he "sees the need for more social workers, especially those specialized in counseling." This request is now added to the Amity website calling for volunteers and consoling staff to travel into Sichuan, the largest area affected by the quakes.

The media has been covering Amity's relief work and is appealing for donations on behalf of Amity. By 4:30pm on Tuesday, May 13 (Asia/Chongqing time) donations surpassed RMB 120,000 Yuan (just over $17,000 USD).

Donations are arriving via the internet or by people visiting the Amity offices directly. A temporary fundraising desk has been set up since May 13 for passersby.

The world is responding to relief efforts as well. The Hong Kong government has granted $3.5 million HKD for relief. Organizations in Hong Kong have contributed over 300,000 HKD. Internationally, churches in the U.S. and Germany have responded quickly, pledging amounts equal to $47,000 US dollars and 10,000 Euros.

Wednesday, Yue Yaomeng visited 7 primary and middle schools, and clinics. He says, "[The] situation is really very severe. Tents are urgently needed. However we are afraid that the tent[s] will not last the half a year it will take for the new clinics to be built.

Pray for the people of China, their leaders and emergency and humanitarian aid workers.

UCC: To assist impacted Chinese families, you may, send gifts payable to your congregation marked for "OGHS International Emergency Fund/China Earthquake" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.ORSend gifts, made out to Wider Church Ministries and marked in the memo portion "OGHS International Emergency Fund/China Earthquake" to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.ORMake a secure online donation to the OGHS International Emergency Fund – note China Earthquake in comments section.